Delaware Considers How to Enhance Energy Supplier Choice

The Delaware Public Service Commission (PSC) staff and the state’s Division of the Public Advocate staff will conduct two public workshops jointly – on October 22 and 29 – to review options for improving customer energy supplier choice and reducing energy costs. Energy suppliers, brokers, utilities and the general public are invited to attend.

The agencies are holding the workshops, in order to fulfill the mandate of the state’s Senate Substitute No. 1 legislation. Passed last July, the measure created a program called Sustainable Energy Utility, for the purpose of developing and coordinating programs for energy end-users.

Specifically, Section 68 of the new bill created an Electricity Affordability Committee (EAC) charged with:

Evaluating an opt-in electricity program,

Deciding if such program would be beneficial to customers,

Selecting and contracting with a PSC-certified supplier, and

Directing the PSC to coordinate an implementation.

Now, the chairman of the EAC has asked the Public Service Commission staff and the Division of the Public Advocate staff to examine the structural aspects of energy supplier choice in Delaware; investigate ways to enhance the visibility of and improve participation in customer choice (either product-specifically or generically); and examine what, if any, options might be available to enhance customer choice that may not have been considered.

The joint staff will conduct two workshops and provide a report of their findings and recommendations for the EAC’s consideration. Those who wish to participate in these workshops, with the right to present pertinent information, must notify the Secretary of the Commission prior to October 20. Notification should be sent to Ms. Donna Nickerson, Secretary, 861 Silver Lake Blvd., Suite 100, Dover, DE 19904 or Donna.Nickerson@state.de.us